Legal Action Opposes Trump's 'Fork Directive,' Seeks Policy Revision

The Facts -

Unions Challenge Controversial Federal Policy

Legal Action Seeks to Halt Implementation and Demand Clarity

Massachusetts -

Today, a coalition of federal employee unions has taken legal action against the Trump-Vance administration's "Fork Directive," a policy they argue threatens the stability and integrity of the federal workforce. The suit was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE Local 3707, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), with legal representation from Democracy Forward. The groups are seeking to delay the February 6 deadline and press the administration to present a lawful and clear policy.

The "Fork Directive" is positioned as an ultimatum to federal employees, pushing them towards resignation under the threat of termination without compensation. The unions argue this directive is part of a broader agenda to replace non-partisan civil servants with political appointees. Questions have been raised about the legality of the offers being made to employees, particularly regarding the uncertainty of funding for promised severance packages.

Alongside the lawsuit, criticisms have emerged regarding information provided to employees in the form of FAQs, which unions argue are misleading. For instance, statements claiming that employees are free to seek other employment post-resignation conflict with existing federal ethics rules.

"AFGE is bringing this suit with our partners today to protect the integrity of the government and prevent union members from being tricked into resigning from the federal service," stated AFGE National President Everett Kelley. He emphasized that the resignation scheme lacks funding and legal backing, and he urged members to resist pressure to participate.

Similarly, AFSCME President Lee Saunders highlighted the impact on community services, noting, "We are filing this lawsuit to stop the purge of qualified professionals from the federal government workforce. Not only are these actions illegal and a scam, but they are eroding the health and well-being of our communities."

NAGE National President David J. Holway criticized the directive as an attack on merit-based civil service, stating, "NAGE will not allow our members to be intimidated into making hasty decisions based on misleading information."

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, underlined the importance of merit over political loyalty in civil service hiring and promotions. "Civil service members deserve more than one-sided ultimatums and misleading schemes," she said.

The lawsuit claims the directive violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the powers granted under the Antideficiency Act. For those interested in the legal specifics, a copy of the complaint is available here.

AFGE, as the largest federal employee union, represents over 800,000 members and continues to advocate for the interests of government workers. More information can be found at the AFGE Media Center.

NAGE represents over 125,000 public and private workers, including 75,000 federal employees, providing essential services across the nation. Discover more at nage.org.

Democracy Forward, a national legal organization advancing democracy and social progress, is leading this legal battle. Further details can be found at www.democracyforward.org.

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